Have you been suffering from pain in the back of your neck? Does it feel like sometimes the pain travels from the neck to the shoulders towards the arms and fingers? Cervical issues become predominant in people as they age, especially those with bad posture due to prolonged working hours on computers. So, what is this cervical spondylitis, and can it be cured without surgeries?
It is an inflammation that occurs in the neck. It is a common degenerative disease that affects the bones in the neck and intervertebral discs. The nerve passing through the spine gets pinched, creating symptoms like arm and shoulder pain. It worsens with age. Some people may suffer from it due to undue mechanical stress.
| Spondylitis | Spondylosis | Spondylolisthesis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Inflammation of joints between spine’s vertebrae. | Age related condition due to wear and tear. | Forward displacement of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae. |
| Which part of body is affected? | May occur in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis. | It affects the joints and discs in human’s neck and back. | People may develop abnormal spine curvature. |
| Potential Causes | It is an auto-immune condition which affects joints and areas that surrounds it. | More likely to occur in people who participate in sports which needs frequent overstretching of lower spine such as gymnastics, football, weight lifting, hockey, etc.
May occur due to injury, aging, or unhealthy lifestyle. |
|
NOTE: The terms spondylitis and spondylosis are often used interchangeably on many websites. This is due to the fact that the majority of the symptoms & treatments are more or less the same.
Since it is an inflammation, anyone can be affected by it. But it is likely to occur in young adults around 30, but the general age group is 40 to 60. It also has been found to run in the family. People who carry the HLA-B27 gene are likely to be affected by it.
Cervical spondylitis affects mainly the neck and adjoining areas such as the head, shoulder, and shoulder blades and may even spread up to arms and fingers.
Cervical spondylosis can be divided into three types of clinical syndromes.
It is caused by a pinched nerve. There is a sharp pain with a tingling sensation in the neck that can spread through the arms.
It is caused by the compression of the spinal cord in the neck. Patients may have problems with fine motor skills (movement with small muscles in hand), pain/stiffness in their neck, and trouble walking.
This type of arthritis affects the joints of the axial skeleton, that is, the chest, spine, and pelvis. Patients may report pain in the back before 45 years of age. They may have stiffness/pain in their teens or young adulthood.
It is a mechanical disorder that can be caused by a number of factors that affect the position of cervical columns. Some common causes can be:
A doctor might examine your neck & shoulder movements, including reflexes, to know more about what is causing the physical pain.
It provides a detailed picture of structural changes around the neck area.
It tests the nerves’ ability to pass signals from the spinal cord to the muscles.
It clearly shows bones, disks, and other tissues around the spinal canal. It is, in some cases, better than a CT scan or MRI.
Medications like ibuprofen, aspirin, opioid pain relief, etc., can help reduce the pain.
Patients may be injected with steroid or anaesthetic drugs into the epidural space or capsule of facet joints.
These are compounds, such as methotrexate, hydrochloroquine, etc., that might be prescribed to patients suffering from cervical spondylitis.
Common muscle relaxants given for cervical spondylitis treatment are cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, etc.
It is a padded ring that stays around the neck. It limits neck movement but is usually worn for a short period only.
Note: Do not consume any medicine prior to the doctor’s consultation. It may cause more harm than good.
Though surgical treatments are rare, one might need them depending on the severity of the condition. Usually, surgery is preferred for cervical radiculopathy (a bone/herniated disc compresses the spinal nerve) or myelopathy (the spinal cord is compressed).
Bone spurs or a part of a vertebra may be removed during surgery. The surgeon may fuse a segment of the spine by using bone grafting or other methodology.
Specific exercises may be added to the patient’s regimen to strengthen muscles. It can last for up to 8 weeks. In some cases, traction (pulling a part of the body) may be used. Let’s see this in more detail.
Several exercises can be incorporated into the patient’s routine for cervical spondylitis treatment. These exercises may involve stretching and strengthening of muscles. Some of them are listed below:
These are a few of the exercises for cervical spondylitis that a physiotherapist may assign you.
Heavy body weight can affect your spine alignment and may contribute to muscle strain or neck pain. Including specific fat-soluble vitamin D with calcium-rich food in your diet can help strengthen your bones and muscles.
You can include anti-oxidant-rich food like spinach, beetroots, beans, whole grain, green peppers, etc. Food rich in omega-3 fatty acids (flaxseeds, nuts, salmon, etc.) can also help. Certain anti-inflammatory foods, such as apple, garlic, ginger, turmeric, etc., can also help. Avoid food that increases the acid load on the body. Always eat sugar and salt in moderation & stay hydrated.
You can use an ice pack to cool your neck or apply heat to it for 15 to 20 minutes or as the physiotherapist directs. A heat pack helps relax the tensed muscles, whereas a cold pack can reduce inflammation or numbness. Don’t use ice directly on your skin; it may give you frostbite. You can keep a napkin or a towel as a barrier.
It can impair the vascular supply of spinal tissue. It has been linked to neck pain in many cases. Also, it is bad for your health and lungs overall.
Talk to Dr. Dhanwala & her expert team, who use a holistic approach for the best cervical spondylitis treatment to relieve your symptoms. A combination of medicine and physiotherapy can work wonders for you. They help suggest methods to manage your stress, which can elevate the symptoms.
Stress not only makes you annoyed but also causes physical tension in your muscles. This can worsen your neck pain. At Dhanwala Naturo & Physio Care, you get world-class treatment for cervical neck pain. That’s why Dr. Mrs. Surabhi Sachin Dhanwala (PT) is affectionately called ‘the lady with magical hands.’ Your body is a wonderful machine gifted to you by Mother Nature that you must take care of. The earlier the treatment starts, the better results you get. That’s true for every medical case.
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